2012 Washington Book Prize at Mount Vernon

One of the nation’s largest literary awards, the annual George Washington Book Prize was presented to Maya Jasanoff for Liberty’s Exiles: American Loyalists in the Revolutionary World.

The Washington Prize, honoring the year’s best book about America’s founding era, is sponsored by a partnership of three institutions devoted to furthering historical scholarship: Washington College, the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, and George Washington’s Mount Vernon. It particularly recognizes well-written books that speak to general audiences and contribute to a broad public understanding of the American past.

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One of the nation’s largest literary awards, the annual George Washington Book Prize, was awarded to Maya Jasanoff for Liberty’s Exiles: American Loyalists in the Revolutionary World at Mount Vernon in May 2012. Complete with the Maryland Loyalist Battalion and WAC students recruiting for and against the loyalists, Jasanoff was welcomed to Washington College to discuss her book. The next morning Maya Jasanoff and Adam Good heart had an open discussion about how books are born.

During Orientation, all incoming students make the pilgrimage to George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens to reaffirm their commitment to the Honor Code—their promise to conduct themselves with honesty and integrity in pursuit of the highest academic and social standards.

Four years later, graduating seniors return to Mount Vernon to mark the successful completion of their degrees and celebrate with a river cruise on the Potomac, tours of the estate, and a champagne toast.

Mount Vernon also plays host to the awarding of the George Washington Book Prize. Last June, the 2012 winner Maya Jansanof, received the $50,000 prize at a black-tie dinner for her book Liberty’s Exiles: American Loyalists in the Revolutionary World.

“George Washington’s character is very much in evidence at Mount Vernon,” notes President Mitchell Reiss. “By forging a stronger connection between our students and our founding patron, we reinforce the enduring values that we all strive to emulate.”

Pauline Maier accepted the 2011 George Washington Book Prize for Ratification: The People Debate the Constitution, 1787-1788 on Wednesday, May 25 at an elegant black-tie gala at Mount Vernon. The winner of one of the largest literary prizes in the country was presented with a medal and $50,000 check from the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, which co-sponsors the prize with Washington College and George Washington’s Mount Vernon. The celebration honoring this year’s three finalists was attended by about 175 people, including faculty, board members, students and dignitaries from the worlds of publishing, academia, law and politics.